(a) The Commissioner of Social Services, in accordance with subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of this section, may prohibit a pharmacy provider from automatically refilling certain prescription drugs for a medical assistance recipient, regardless of whether a recipient requests or consents to participation in an automatic prescription drug refill program. For any prescription subject to this prohibition, the Department of Social Services shall not make payment for a refill without an explicit verbal or written request for such payment from the recipient or the recipient's legal representative.
(b) The commissioner shall submit recommendations on the types, classes or usage of prescription drugs to be subject to the automatic refill prohibition described in subsection (a) of this section, and for prescription drugs to be exempted from such prohibition, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services.
(c) Not later than thirty days after the date of their receipt of such recommendations, the joint standing committee shall hold a public hearing on the recommendations, and notify the Commissioner of Social Services of the date and time of the public hearing. If the joint standing committee does not schedule the public hearing, the recommendations shall be deemed approved. At the conclusion of the public hearing held in accordance with the provisions of this section, the joint standing committee shall advise the commissioner of its approval, denial or modifications, if any, of the commissioner's recommendations. If the joint standing committee denies the commissioner's recommendations, the commissioner shall not implement such recommendations but may submit new recommendations to the committee for action in accordance with this subsection.
(d) The commissioner shall submit the recommendations, as approved or modified in accordance with subsection (c) of this section, to the Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committee established pursuant to section 17b-274d.
(P.A. 18-77, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 18-77 effective June 1, 2018.